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tense

adjective noun verb

In or of a state of physical or nervous tension

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
5
Starts with
T
Ends with
E
Contains
EN
Scrabble score
5
CEFR level
B1

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Meaning

Definitions

adjective

  1. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension

adjective

  1. Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in ‘beat’)

adjective

  1. Taut or rigid; stretched tight

    “Tense piano strings”

noun

  1. A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

verb

  1. Become stretched or tense or taut

    “The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed”

verb

  1. Increase the tension on

    “Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle”

verb

  1. Become tense, nervous, or uneasy

    “He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room”

verb

  1. Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

    “He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up”

In context

Example Sentences

Tense piano strings
The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
The rope strained when the weight was attached
Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up

Similar words

Synonyms

Opposite words

Antonyms

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